School board endorses Be Smart safe-storage program, cosigns community letter

MSAD 51’s school board unanimously moved to support the Be Smart National Gun Safety and Secure Firearms Storage Program and cosign a district letter urging secure firearm storage in homes. The board heard from Anne Sawchuk, a Cumberland resident and volunteer with the Maine chapter of Be Smart, who presented data on child and teen firearm deaths, accidental shootings and the importance of safe storage.

Sawchuk outlined Be Smart’s five adult actions — secure guns in home and vehicles, model safe behavior, ask about unsecured guns in other homes, recognize the role of guns in suicide, and tell peers to be smart — and emphasized that the program is educational and nonpolitical. The chair noted the district will cosign a letter with Cumberland Police Chief Rumsey and distribute resources to families; the resolution and community letter were approved by motion, seconded and carried at the meeting.

The board asked staff to circulate the approved letter to the Cumberland school community and to make Be Smart’s training and materials available to schools and community groups at no cost.